Ashtray

ABSTRACT

The ashtray disclosed has a receptacle with a bottom, side walls, and an opening in the top through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle. A roller is located in the opening and supported for rotation by the receptacle around an axis transverse the opening. The roller has a plurality of arms extending radially from the center portion of the roller. Each arm has a lobe attached to the end thereof, each lobe being wider than the arm to which it is attached so that each two adjacent arms with their associated lobes form a pocket having an opening between the lobes through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can be deposited in the pockets when the openings are facing upwardly and from which the ashes, cigarettes, and the like will fall into the receptacle when the roller is rotated. Each lobe has an outer arcuate surface that just clears the side walls of the receptacle and each lobe is wider than the distance between the lobes so that the roller will close the opening to the receptacle sufficiently at any position of the roller to keep ashes from being blown from the receptacle by the wind and to smother burning ashes deposited in the receptacle.

United States Patent [1 1 Walton "1.11 3,750,824 [451 Aug. 7, 1973 ASHTRAY [76] Inventor: George W. Walton, 8903 Devonshire Dr. at Farquhar Ln., Dallas, Tex. [22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 116,979

[52] US. Cl. 220/20.5, 131/242 [51] Int. Cl 365d 7/00 [58] Field of Search 220/205; 131/237, 131/242, 212; 206/195 C, 19.5 D, 38 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,929 2/1951 Marley 131/237 2,891,558 6/1959 Malhon 131/212 2,589,989 3/1952 Brunsvold.... 131/235 2,989,964 6/1961 Willet 220/20.5 1,912,598 6/1933 Snadden... 220/205 UX 3,052,346 9/1962 Maron 220/205 2,827,906 3/1958 Manion 220/205 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 459,841 l/1937 Great Britain 131/242 517,211 l/1940 Great Britain 131/237 Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Attorney-I-lycr, Eickenroht, Thompson & Turner [57] ABSTRACT The ashtray disclosed has a receptacle with a bottom, side walls, and an opening in the top through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle. A roller is located in the opening and supported for rotation by the receptacle around an axis transverse the opening. The roller has a plurality of arms extending radially from the center portion of the roller. Each arm has a lobe attached to the end thereof, each lobe being wider than the arm to which it is attached so that each two adjacent arms with their associated lobes form a pocket having an opening between the lobes through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can be deposited in the pockets when the openings are facing upwardly and from which the ashes, cigarettes, and the like will fall into the receptacle when the roller is rotated. Each lobe has an outer arcuate surface that just clears the side walls of the receptacle and each lobe is wider than the distance between the lobes so that the roller will close the opening to the receptacle sufficiently at any position of the roller to keep ashes from being blown from the receptacle by the wind and to smother burning ashes deposited in the receptacle.

6 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures Pmmmm 3.750.824

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BY lei l1, W "ZM/ A TTORWE VS ASHTRAY This invention relates to ashtrays generally and in particular to ashtrays that are windproof, i.e., ashtrays from which the ashes will not be blown by wind. In yet another of its aspects, the invention relates to ashtrays wherein the receptacle in which the ashes, cigarettes, and the like are deposited is sufficiently closed that any lighted cigarettes or burning ashes deposited therein will be smothered out due to the restricted circulation of air inside the receptacle.

Ashtrays that are windproof and that will smother out burning cigarettes have obvious advantages over open ashtrays from which the ashes can be blown by the wind and that allow burning ashes or cigarettes deposited therein to continue to burn.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved ashtray that will keep the ashes deposited therein from being blown out by the wind.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved ashtray that will smother burning cigarettes and the like that are deposited in the receptacle of the ashtray.

It is another object of this invention to provide a windproof ashtray in which the opening to the ash receptacle is closed by a multiarmed roller that maintains the opening closed at any position of the roller and that receives the ashes, cigarettes, and the like and deposits them into the receptacle when rotated.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification including the attached drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ashtray of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are vertical, sectional views taken along line 3 -3 of FIG. 2 showing the roller of the ashtray in two positions;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3A with the roller shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the ashtray of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the ashtray of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 with the roller shown in elevation;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view similar to the view of FIG. 8 but with the roller rotated 45;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a shaft for rolling the roller of the ashtray;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary isometric view of the end of the roller into which the shaft of FIG. 10 is inserted to connect the roller and the shaft;

FIG. 12 is a top view of another embodiment of the ashtray of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view partially in elevation and partially in section of the ashtray of FIG. 12, the view being taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 with the roller shown in elevation with the exception of a portion thereof that is in section to show one of the ribs of the roller in section;

FIG. 14 is an endview of the ashtray of FIG. 12 with aportion of the receptacle broken away to show the end of the roller in elevation;

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 12

The ashtray of this invention includes a receptacle having a bottom, side walls, and an opening in the top thereof through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4,. the receptacle is generally indicated by the number 10. It is rectangular in shape having four side walls 12, 14, 16, and 18 and bottom 20. The side walls are generally vertical. lntegrally attached to the top of the walls is frusto-conical bowl 22 to provide a gently inclined surface upon which a cigarette may be laid. The side walls form opening 24 in the top of the receptacle through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle. As best seen in FIG. 2, side walls 14 and 18 are generally straight and parallel whereas side walls 12 and 16 curve outwardly away from each other, thereby providing opening 24 with straight ends and outwardly curving sides.

In accordance with this invention, a roller is located in the opening and supported for rotation by the receptacle around an axis transverse the opening. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, roller 26 has central portion 28 equipped at opposite ends with trunnions 30 and 32. Side walls 14 and 18 have upwardly opening slots 34 and 36 to receive trunnions 30 and 32, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The bottoms of the slots are rounded to provide semi-circular bearing surfaces to support the trunnions and the roller for rotation around an axis that extends across the opening in the receptacle. This arrangement allows the ashtray to be easily cleaned simply by lifting the roller out of the slots and dumping the contents of the receptacle.

Further in accordance with this invention, center section 28 of roller 26 has a plurality of radially extending arms attached to the central portion. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, roller 26 has four equally spaced arms 38a, 38b, 38d that extend radially from the center section 28. The arms extend along the central portion 28 of the roller from one side of opening 24 to the other, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. The outer surfaces of the arms are curved in a direction transverse the axis of rotation of the roller, i.e., the surfaces are curved in the direction of rotation. In the embodiment shown, the arms includle outer lobes 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d that are integrally attached to the inner portion of arms 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d, respectively, and the lobes have such curved outer surfaces. These curved outer surfaces: of the lobes lie on a circle having as its center the center of rotation of the roller. The radial length of the arms is such that the clearance between the arcuate surfaces of the lobes and vertical side walls 12 and 16 of the receptacle combined with the portion of the arms adjacent side walls 14 and 18 effectively closes opening 24 of the receptacle and makes the ashtray windproof.

Further in accordance with this invention, the width of the curved outer surface of the arms is such that the opening in the receptacle will be effectively closed reposition. This places the outer arcuate surfaces of lobes 40a and 48c adjacent side walls 12 and 16. Here the clearance D between the side walls and the lobes adjacent thereto is such that openings 24 is effectively closed. FIG. 38 illustrates the position of the roller when the lobes would be spaced the furthest distance from the side wall. This would be a distance D'. In accordance with this invention, by making the width, W, of the lobes greater than the distance, S, between the lobes, distance D can be such that the opening in the receptacle is still effectively closed with the lobes in this position. One reason for this is that even though the lobes will be spaced away from the side walls a distance greater than when they are in the position shown in FIG. 3A, there will be two lobes adjacent the side walls rather than one, and even though they are spaced further away, the total effect of the lobes will be such that the opening is effectively closed for purposes of the ashtray.

There is another feature of this invention. The radially extending arms and relatively wide lobes attached to the outer ends thereof form pockets between the arms. The opening into the pockets is through the space between the lobes. This space is, of course, more narrow than the pocket itself between the arms; therefore, in use, ashes or cigarettes dropped into the upwardly opening pocket or pockets depending on the position of the roller, will be retained therein until the roller is rotated at which time the ashes, cigarettes, etc., will be deposited in the receptacle 10. Thus, in use, a smoker can lay his cigarette on the tray in between puffs and the burning end of the cigarette will not reignite the discarded cigarettes previously deposited in the ash tray because the roller will separate the two.

As a further convenience to the smoker, two ridges 44 and 46 are positioned on opposite sides of the opening and the roller. The grooves in the ridges have a diameter slightly less than that of the conventional cigarette so that a cigarette when placed therein will be firmly held until retrieved by its user. This keeps the cigarette from inadvertently sliding into a pocket of the roller prematurely. Alternatively, the grooves could be V-shaped to give them a sticking taper.

FIGS. through 11 show an alternate embodiment of the ashtray of this invention. Hollow receptacle 50 of this ashtray is generally spherically shaped on the outer side surface. It has a generally flat bottom 51. Circular groove 52 is located in the bottom of the receptacle to receive O-ring 53 of resilient material. The O-ring serves to provide a soft pad between the ashtray and the surface upon which it rests to keep the ashtray from marring the surface. This is best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Spherical side walls 54 are generally of uniform width as they curve upwardly from bottom 51 until they approach their upper end where they increase in width to provide opening 55 in the top of the receptacle with relatively long side walls. Connected to the upper end of side walls 54 is bowl 56 to provide a surface on which cigarettes and the like can be placed or supported. In the embodiment shown, the bowl is integrally attached to the side walls of the receptacle. The upper surface of bowl 56 slopes downwardly toward opening 55 of the receptacle and has grooves 57 in which cigarettes can be placed when resting on the bowl. The grooves hold the cigarettes from rolling from side to side. Cavity 58 of the receptacle receives cigarettes, ashes, and the like through opening 55 in the top of the receptacle.

Roller 60 is located in opening 55 and supported for rotation by the receptacle around an axis transversethe opening. In this embodiment, opening in the receptacle is circular in transverse cross section. Therefore roller is spherically shaped. Cylindrical boss or trunnion 61 extends outwardly from the outer spherical surface of the roller with its longitudinal axis intersecting the center of the roller. Diametrically opposite trunnion 61 is second trunnion 63. This trunnion is integrally connected to roller 60 and extends outwardly therefrom. It is cylindrically shaped and its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of trunnion 61. These trunnions engage the semi-circular bottoms of upwardly opening grooves 62 and 64 located on opposite sides of opening 55 and support the roller for rotation around an axis transverse the opening.

In this embodiment, separate means are provided for rotating the roller. As shown, shaft 65 is located in opening 650 that extends through the side of the receptacle and intersects groove 64. The opening is positioned to support shaft 65 in alignment with the axis of rotation of the roller. End 66 of shaft 65 is non-circular, being square in cross section in this embodiment, to engage square opening 67 in trunnion 63 and provide a driving connection between shaft 65 and trunnion 63. The outer end 68 of shaft 65 is of enlarged diameter and knurled to provide a knob that can be turned between the thumb and forefinger to rotate roller 60 on trunnions 61 and 63.

Roller 60 has a plurality of radially extending arms 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d that are interconnected to and extending along central section 71 of the roller. As best seen in FIG. 8, arms 70a-70d have a minimum width approximately midway between the outer ends of the arms and the axis of rotation of the roller and increased in width on each side thereof. This produces a crosssectional shape somewhat like a Formee cross. The outer surfaces of the arms are portions of spheres. Therefore they are arcuate in transverse cross section, as shown in FIG. 8. The radial distance between the outer surfaces of roller 60 and its axis of rotation is such that the outer surfaces of the arms just barely clear the side walls of opening 55. Also, to obtain the windproof ashtray of this invention, the width of the outer edges of the arms is greater than the distance between the arms so that the roller will be in position to close opening 55 sufficiently to keep the ahses in cavity 58 of the receptacle from being blown out of the cavity by the wind regardless of the position of the roller with respect to the opening. To further improve the sealing effects of roller 60, the lower portion of the side walls of opening 55 are spherical, curving around a center that coincides with the center of spherically shaped roller 60. The radius of curvature of the lower portion of the side walls is just slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere from which roller 60 is formed. This extends the length of the narrow opening between the surfaces of the arcuate ends of the arms on the roller and the side walls of the opening to improve the sealing effect of the roller.

FIG. 9 shows how the cavity in the receptacle is maintained protected from wind even though one of pockets 73 is positioned opposite the side walls of opening 55. As shown, the distance between the adjacent edges of the outer surfaces of the arms is less than the length of the sides of opening 55. Therefore portions of the outer surfaces of two of the lobes will be adjacent the wall of opening 55 and will therefore maintain the cavity in the receptacle protected from the wind.

An alternate embodiment of the ashtray of this invention is shown in H68. 12 through 16. This embodiment is very similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 11. The principle difference is that opening 80 in the top of receptacle 81 has generally parallel walls 80a and 80b and semi-circular end walls 800 and 86d. Consequently, roller 82 has spherically shaped ends and is cylindrically shaped between the ends. The roller has central portion 83 and radially extending arms 84a, 84b, 84c and 84d. As'best seen in FIG. 15, roller 82, like roller 60, in cross section is shaped somewhat like the Formee Cross. This provides cavities 85 that are generally round on the bottom and the entire surface of the roller is generally smooth without sharp edges. The lower portion of the side wall of opening 80 in the top or receptacle 31 is spherically shaped, in the manner described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 11, to improve the sealing ability of the roller with respect to cavity 86 in receptacle 81. Also, as was the case with roller 60 in the previously described embodiment, the ends of the roller adjacent the trunnions that support it for rotation are generally smooth and are spaced from the sides of the opening a short distance to allow the roller to rotate but sufficiently close to maintain the sealing effect of the roller in the opening. In other words, the cavities between the arms of roller 82 terminate before they reach the end of the roller so that the spherically shaped ends of the roller that are adjacent spherically shaped side walls 80c and 80d of the opening are smooth spherical surfaces that are spaced from the side walls of the opening just enough to provide the necessary clearance for rotation.

in this embodiment, roller 82 is supported on trunnions 87 and b8 that engage the semi-circular bottoms of upwardly opening grooves 89 and 90, respectively. This method of mounting the roller for rotation across an axis transverse the opening is similar to the method of mounting the roller in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.

The ashtray of this invention can be made of various materials, such as ceramic, glass, or plastic. The embodiment shown in FIGS. ll through 4 is particularly adaptable to being molded, since the inner walls of the receptacle are straight.

From the foregoing it can be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. An ashtray comprising an ash receiving receptacle having a bottom, side walls, and an upwardly facing opening defined by substantially vertical surfaces of the side walls through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle and a roller having an elongated center portion located in the opening, means supporting the roller for free rotation around a horizontal axis extending transverse the opening, said roller having a plurality of arms attached to the center portion to extend radially therefrom and longitudinally therealong, each arm having an outer lobe that has an arcuate outer surface that curves in the direction of rotation of the roller, said outer curved surface of each lobe having a width such that the arcuate distance between said lobes on adjacent arms is no greater than the width of the surfaces defining the opening whereby the arcuate outer surfaces of at least two of the lobes will be positioned adjacent opening defining surfaces of the side walls at all times regardless of the angular position of the arms, said arcuate surfaces being spaced from said surfaces of the side walls, when adjacent thereto, to close the opening sufficiently to keep wind from blowing ashes out of the receptacle and to cause burning ashes therein to rapidly smother.

2.. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the roller is equipped with four arms.

3. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the surfaces of the side walls that define the opening are of substantially the same vertical width as the outer lobes on the roller, and the axis of rotation of the roller lies in a horizontal plane that intersects the surfaces approximately midway between their upper and lower edges.

4. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the means supporting the roller includes axially aligned trunnions attached to opposite ends of the center portion of the roller and said side walls have upwardly opening slots to receive the trunnions and support the roller for rotation.

5. An ashtray comprising an ash receiving receptacle having a bottom, side walls, and an upwardly facing opening defined by surfaces of the side walls through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle and a roller having an elongated center portion positioned in the opening, means supporting the roller for rotation around a horizontal axis that lies in a horizontal plane that intersects the opening defining surfaces between the upper and lower edges thereof, said roller having a plurality of arms attached to the center portion to extend radially therefrom and longitudinally therealong, each arm having an outer lobe that has an arcuate outer surface that curves in the direction of rotation of the roller, said outer curved surface of each lobe having a width such that the arcuate distance between said lobes on adjacent arms is no greater than the width of the surfaces defining the opening whereby the arcuate outer surfaces of at least two of the lobes will be positioned adjacent opening defining surfaces of the side walls at all times regardless of the angular positon of the arms, said arcuate surfaces being spaced from said surfaces, when adjacent thereto, to close the opening sufficiently to keep wind from blowing ashes out of the receptacle and tocause burning ashes therein to rapidly smother.

6. The ashtray of claim 5 in which the portions of the opening defining surfaces below the intersection of the horizontal plane of the axis of rotation of the roller and that are adjacent the lobes on the roller are arcuate having the same center of curvature as the arcuate surfaces on the lobes.

i l l l 

1. An ashtray comprising an ash receiving receptacle having a bottom, side walls, and an upwardly facing opening defined by substantially vertical surfaces of the side walls through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle and a roller having an elongated center portion located in the opening, means supporting the roller for free rotation around a horizontal axis extending transverse the opening, said roller having a plurality of arms attached to the center portion to extend radially therefrom and longitudinally therealong, each arm having an outer lobe that has an arcuate outer surface that curves in the direction of rotation of the roller, said outer curved surface of each lobe having a width such that the arcuate distance between said lobes on adjacent arms is no greater than the width of the surfaces defining the opening whereby the arcuate outer surfaces of at least two of the lobes will be positioned adjacent opening defining surfaces of the side walls at all times regardless of the angular position of the arms, said arcuate surfaces being spaced from said surfaces of the side walls, when adjacent thereto, to close the opening sufficiently to keep wind from blowing ashes out of the receptacle and to cause burning ashes therein to rapidly smother.
 2. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the roller is equipped with four arms.
 3. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the surfaces of the side walls that define the opening are of substantially the same vertical width as the outer lobes on the roller, and the axis of rotation of the roller lies in a horizontal plane that intersects the surfaces approximately midway between their upper and lower edges.
 4. The ashtray of claim 1 in which the means supporting the roller includes axially aligned trunnions attached to opposite ends of the center portion of the roller and said side walls have upwardly opening slots to receive the trunnions and support the roller for rotation.
 5. An ashtray comprising an ash receiving receptacle having a bottom, side walls, and an upwardly facing opening defined by surfaces of the side walls through which ashes, cigarettes, and the like can pass into the receptacle and a roller having an elongated center portion positioned in the opening, means supporting the roller for rotation around a horizontal axis that lies in a horizontal plane that intersects the opening defining surfaces between the upper and lower edges thereof, said roller having a plurality of arms attached to the center portion to extend radially therefrom and longitudinally therealong, each arm having an outer lobe that has an arcuate outer surface that curves in the direction of rotation of the roller, said outer curved surface of each lobe having a width such that the arcuate distance between said lobes on adjacent arms is no greater than the width of the surfaces defining the opening whereby the arcuate outer surfaces of at least two of the lobes will be positioned adjacent opening defining surfaces of the side walls at all times regardless of the angular position of the arms, said arcuate surfaces being spaced from said surfaces, when adjacent thereto, to close the opening sufficiently to keep wind from blowing ashes out of the receptacle and to cause burning ashes therein to rapidly smother.
 6. The ashtray of claim 5 in which the portions of the opening defining surfaces below the intersection of the horizontal plane of the axis of rotation of the roller and that are adjacent the lobes on the roller are arcuate having the same center of curvature as the arcuate surfaces on the lobes. 